IN THESE most testing of times for those who hold the club so dear, York City and visitors Shrewsbury Town provided a timely reminder as to why this great game is such an addiction.

It wasn't spectacular, a classic, or a festive feast of flowing football. The conditions did most to put paid to that.

But City and their visitors served their purpose by providing enough entertainment, incident and accidents, controversy - not least a last minute sending-off - and two fine goals to enable all the current worries to be swept to one side for all too brief a time.

In the end, a point was probably a fair result.

The statistics show it was an even game and few neutral observers would disagree.

City certainly didn't deserve to lose a game they could not afford to.

Against a promotion-chasing team, they shaded possession and knocked the ball around smartly and brightly at times.

And to come back from a goal down given recent events proved the spirit of the City players is still alive and kicking.

However, despite a well-worked equaliser and the best efforts of striking duo Lee Nogan and Michael Proctor to fashion chances, for the most part City lacked a real sense of penetration. A sting in the tail was missing.

At the opposite end, perhaps the defensive blunders that cost City so dear against Cheltenham were lingering to leave confidence still bruised.

But in the first-half especially there were a few too many anxious moments for comfort until some semblance of order was gradually instilled.

Indeed, as the City defence were still finding its feet, Shrewsbury could have been 2-0 up within the first three minutes but for Alan Fettis.

The City goalkeeper got down smartly to block Rory Fallon's goal-bound shot with his legs, then showed his agility to paw away Jamie Tolley's rasping volley.

Fettis produced a world-class save on 38 minutes, tipping Karl Murray's thumping drive that was heading for the top corner on to the crossbar, and again reacted quickly just minutes later to claw away the danger as the ball ricocheted off Gary Hobson and headed goal-wards.

By then Shrewsbury were already 1-0 up after a superbly worked goal.

Fallon took possession of a long clearance out wide on the right, cut inside and squared the ball for Ryan Lowe, who didn't break stride as he lashed the ball past Fettis from 18 yards.

But for all Fettis' heroics and the visitor's smashing strike, City were not without their moments.

After a neat exchange of passes, Lee Bullock fired over from eight yards while Nogan and Proctor also fashioned a clear sight of goal only for the on-loan Sunderland hit-man to miscue badly at the telling moment.

The Minstermen also had a couple of half-decent penalty appeals turned away.

Leon Drysdale appeared to handle skipper Chris Brass's block-cum-shot before Greg Rioch looked to give Bullock a nudge in the back as the City midfielder steadied himself to head home.

As the temperature continued to drop, it was perhaps not surprising the second-half failed to match the tempo of the first.

Indeed, it wasn't until 15 minutes in that the first effort on goal was realised, and with it City grabbed their equaliser.

From deep inside his own half, Mike Basham - pilloried by many but is there a better long-distance passer of the ball in the club? - picked out Proctor, who nut-megged Drysdale before laying the ball inside for strike partner Nogan.

The former Darlington front-man turned and from 25 yards unleashed a fizzing low drive that whistled past Ian Dunbavin and nestled in the corner of the goal.

Thereafter it was nip and tuck with both sides creating little more than half-chances.

City were the more enterprising and had the best chance to take all the points but with Dunbavin stranded Graham Potter was unable to get enough power in his attempted lob before Nick Richardson's volley looped just over.

A delightful reverse pass from Nogan then sent Potter away to the by-line. His cross sat up nicely for Bullock, whose header forced an acrobatic save from Dunbavin.

In the final minute, Shrewsbury's Nigel Jemson received his marching orders for kicking out at City defender Hobson after an innocuous and accidental collision left the visiting skipper prone.

It was a sour end to an enjoyable game but after a troublesome year, at least City were able to end 2001 with a warming glow.

Fact file:

York City:

Scorers: Nogan 59m

Fettis 8, Edmondson 7, Hocking 6, Basham 6, Hobson 6, Potter 7, Brass 6, Richardson 6, Bullock 6, Nogan 7, Proctor 6

Subs, not used: Howarth, Maley, Mathie, O'Kane, Stamp

Bookings: Potter 90m (foul)

Sent-off: None

Shrewsbury:

Scorers: Lowe 20m

Dunbavin, Drysdale, Redmile, Tretton (Wilding 68m), Rioch, Lowe, Tolley, Murray, Moss (Aiston 68m), Jemson, Fallon (Murphy 86m)

Subs, not used: Southall, Walker

Bookings: Aiston 79m (foul)

Sent-off: Jemson 90m (violent conduct)

Attendance: 2,413

Referee: Colin Webster (Durham)